Bubinga and Purpleheart

[Greg Lorisco]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Morado was the first wood we used for neck strips since the beginning. When the Oiled models came out after doing Lacquers we found that the Oil was harder to do. Before the Laq. models, we just did it, period.

There is no 'in-service' difference that we can point a finger at one way or another. The Strips under the Fingerboard are partly routed away for the Graphite bars that are inlaid so the darker wood strips that you see are partly cosmetic at that point as far as structure goes. The Graphite is a great equalizer.

The mass in a Neck is mainly Maple with an Ebony FB in most cases. That is where the sound comes from. There are as many variables between the maple pieces from neck to neck to alter the sound in a minuscule way that the laminated strips in the neck make little difference in the sound that you hear. I have yet to hear a difference. A 7-pc neck with the wider exotic center vs a 5-pc neck with a maple center is noticibly different to my ear. Maybe a 2-5% change in tone overall to my ear. The 7-pc construction on its own is the main change. Like in the MS models with 3-pc maple only, I hear a difference as compared to a 5-pc with exotic features.. still, 5% at most.

The EYES play tricks on us. Like eating food. Don't eat or order with your eyes. Taste the food!

Thanks Ken.

Are the 7-piece necks brighter than the 5-piece?

Same for the 3 vs 5 piece body?

Do they all have that distinctive growl? (That tone is just awesome)